of flics, is usually blessed witii a (juiet and sentimental disposition. 



IIow often has a speetator unburdened iiis soul in Uus wise: 

 " Ah, sir, you're out of luck to-day. You're fishini,' well enough for 

 anytiiing, and if they won't take that fly of yours tiiey'll lake nothing." 



No doubt, it is tiie part of the education of a gillie— at least a 

 good gillie— to encourage. But it would be far better for him to say : 

 Yes, you have covered the pool right enough, but to speak the truth, 

 you entirely failed to present the fly in such a way as to induce the 

 fish to acknowledge it in an)- form whatever. 



Students, as a rule, make the same old-fashioned sort of cast, and 

 let their fl\- travel in the same old-fashioned sort of way on every 

 occasion. Now there is a variety of methotls, measures and 

 manifuvres, every one of which is best for its own special purpose. 



For instance, suppose a pool has the following characteristics, 

 viz., the flrst five and twenty yards at the top, a straight rough-and- 

 tumble piece of water, tranquil on each side, followed by a succession 

 of imperceptible eddies, which, in a manner of speaking, are perfected 

 by the fact that the current here flows somewhat slower; while the 

 lower part consists of one large "slack" well within reach, above 

 which the main stream divides, one half flowing towards the opposite 

 side, the other coming towards the bank we are on. 



A ]wol of this sort has many lay-byes, and three separate Catches 

 in p]y according to the season, and the height and colour of the water. 

 Fish would rest in the Slack at the tail, when the water runs high ; in 

 the middle part, when of medium height ; and when quite low, at the 

 top section. Hut for the purpose of illustration, how should the pool 

 be fished ? 



On starting operations at the head of the water, whatever 



